Reggio Emilia Philosophy

Recognized as the best in the World

Hailed as an exemplary model of early childhood education (Newsweek, 1991), the Reggio Emilia approach to education seeks to enhance a child’s “own powers of thinking through the synthesis of all the expressive, communicative and cognitive languages” (Edwards and Forman, 1993). The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education grew out of a city-run system of centers in Reggio Emilia, Italy designed for all children from birth through six years of age.

These programs have been recognized as the best in the world, and are based upon the following principles:

Emergent Curriculum

One that builds upon the interests of children

Topics for study are captured from the talk of children, through community or family events, as well as the known interests of children (puddles, shadow, dinosaurs, etc.). Team planning is an essential component of the emergent curriculum. Teachers work together to formulate the possible directions of a project, the materials needed, and possible parent and/or community support and involvement.

Project Work

Considered as an Adventure

Projects, also emergent, are in-depth studies of concepts, ideas, and interests which arise from the children. Considered as an adventure, projects may last one week or could continue throughout the school year. Throughout a project, teachers help children make decisions about the direction of study, the ways in which the group will research the topic, the mmedium that will demonstrate and showcase the topic, and the selection of materials needed for the work.

Representational Development

Understanding of Experience

Consistent with Howard Gardner’s notion of schooling for multiple intelligences, the Reggio Emilia approach calls for the integration of the graphic arts as tools for cognitive, linguistic, and social development. Presentation of concepts in multiple forms — print, art, construction, drama, music, puppetry, and shadow play — are viewed as essential to children’s understanding of experience.

Collaboration

Advance Cognitive Development

Collaborative group work, both large and small, is considered valuable and necessary to advance cognitive development. Children are encouraged to talk, critique, compare, negotiate, hypothesize, and problem-solve through group work. Within the Reggio Emilia approach, different approaches toward the same investigation are all valued, and thus children are given access to many tools and media to express themselves. The relationship and collaboration with the home, school and community all support the learning of the child.

Teachers as Researchers

Provoke, Co-construct, and Stimulate

The teacher’s role within the Reggio Emilia approach is complex. Working as co-teachers, the role of the teacher is first and foremost to be that of a learner alongside the children. The teacher is a teacher-researcher, a resource and guide as she/he lends expertise to children (Edwards, 1993). Within such a teacher-researcher role, educators carefully listen, observe, and document children’s work and the growth of community in their classroom and are to provoke, co-construct, and stimulate thinking and peer collaboration. Teachers are committed to reflection about their own teaching and learning.

Documentation

Assessment of Learning

Similar to the portfolio approach, documentation of children’s work in progress is viewed as an important tool in the learning process for children, teachers, and parents. Pictures of children engaged in experiences, their words as they discuss what they are doing, feeling and thinking, and the children’s interpretation of experience are displayed. Documentation is used as assessment of learning as well as advocacy.

Environment

Considered as the "Third Teacher."

Within the Reggio Emilia schools, great attention is given to the look and feel of the classroom. Environment is considered the “third teacher.” Teachers carefully organize space for small and large group projects and small intimate spaces for one, two or three children. Documentation of children’s work, plants, and collections that children have made from former outings are displayed both at the children’s and adult eye level. Common space available to all children in the school includes dramatic play areas and worktables for children from different classrooms to come together.

Atelier

Construct and Express

Ideally, each Reggio Emilia school has an Atelier, which is a common space where students work on projects that involve clay, wire, mirrors, beautiful papers, drawing materials, paints and found objects. The Atelierista (or studio teacher) sees these materials as languages that children use to construct and express many kinds of knowledge, even before they can speak. Teachers trace the children’s discoveries through the artwork and together with the ‘Atelierista’, document and reflect on the children’s learning.

Features of

The Reggio Emilia Approach

Teacher Role:

to co-explore the learning experience with the children

to provoke ideas, problem solving, and conflict resolution

to take ideas from the children and return them for further exploration

to organize the classroom and materials to be accessible and interesting to the child

Cambridge Preschool has really helped us to get our kid educated in a unique way, we are very happy parents. And very fortunate to come to know about Cambridge International Pre-School at a time when we were looking for a preschool for our kid. Thank you all at CIPS…

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